Mechanisms of corrosion and electrochemical significance of metallurgy and environment with corrosion of iron and steel in bicarbonate and carbonate solutions - A review

This paper presents an electrochemical review on the corrosion behavior of iron and steel in bicarbonate and carbonate solutions. The mechanisms of dissolution and passivation are at first consolidated. The significance of microstructure and alloying composition and those of bicarbonate, carbonate, and chloride, in aerated, de-oxygenated, and carbon dioxide (CO₂)-saturated solutions, at different temperatures and pH are surveyed and explained. The kinetics and rates of corrosion and the electrochemical, morphological, and compositional characteristics of the passive films are the main scopes this review encompasses. It deals with a large scatter of findings that are multifaceted and often contradictory in literature. Ultimately, this review helps to better understand and predict the corrosion behavior and guides an informed practice of carbon steel selection for bicarbonate- and carbonate-based aqueous applications.